Toy submarine



1945- F.'SABlNl TOY SUBMARINE Filed Oct. 15, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. SABlNl Awzg; 13, 13

TOY SUBMARINE Filed Oct. 15, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO ATTORNEY.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. SABIN! TOY SUBMARINE Filed 001;. 15, 1943 mg, E3,

Patented Aug. 13, 1946 oans UNITED STATES PATENT QFHCE TOY SUBMARINE Frederick Sabini, Salem, N. 3.

Application October 15, 1943, Serial No. 506,305

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in toys; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of toy submarine.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a novel construction of self-submerging toy submarine adapted to float for an appreciable period of time on the surface of water and then automatically submerge itself below said surface.

The invention has for another object to provide a toy submarine comprising a hollow body or hull having in the bottom portion thereof, below its normal water-line, suitably located primary Water admission means, the size of which more or less predetermines the time period during which the submarine floats upon the surface of water, and having secondary and relatively larger water admission means suitably located in the sides of the hull, and suitably spaced above its water-line when the hull i initially set afloat, through which, as the floating hull settles in the water by reason of intake of water through said primary water admission means, water may eventually gain comparatively rapid admission to the roll interior, whereby to cause the hull to dive or submerge beneath the water surface; said hull having in its top portion air evacuating vent means.

The invention has for a further object to pro vide within the toy submarine hull, having water admission and air vent means as above stated, suitably located air chamber means wherein air may be trapped to provide the hull with sufiicient buoyancy to float the same when submerged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self-submerging toy submarine, characterized as above stated, with auxiliary means for tempo- .rarily buoying the stern of the hull during submerging movement, whereby to cause the hull to dive bow foremost when submerging.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a toy submarine of the kind stated, in more elaborate forms thereof, with one or more additional features such as torpedo firing equipment, periscope actuating means, conning tower hatch actuating means, and/or bubble discharge means, whereby to give the toy additional verisimilitude.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of the toy submarine according to this invention, showing the same in its initial position afloat upon th surface of water; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 2-?. in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a View similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing the submarine in the course of divingto submerged position; and Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the same in submerged position.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal view of a modified construction of toy submarine according to this invention, shown in its initial position afloat upon the surace of water; Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the same submerged in-over-turned position or bottom side up; and Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the same submerged right side up.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a more elaborate type of the toy submarine according to this invention, showing in dotted outline its position afloat on the surface of water, and in full outline, its position when submerged.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings is shown a simple form of the toy submarine according to this invention, the same comprising a hollow main body or hull formed by a bottom portion H3, side portions H and top or deck portion l2; said main body or hull being suitably shaped to simulate the appearance of a submarine. Said main body or hull may be made of ayn suitable material, such e. g. as sheet metal, plastic material, wood, etc. Joined to and rising from the top or deck portion 12 of the main body or hull is a hollow body extension I3, which may be suitably shaped to simulate the conning tower of a submarine. Said hollow body extension I3 is open at its bottom so as to communicate with the interior of the main body or hull, and its interior provides an air trapping chamber M for purposes hereinafter disclosed. Aifixed to the top of said body extension is is an upstanding exterio-rly projecting periscope simulating element l5. Suitably located within the interior of the main body or hull, in affixed relation to the bottom portion It thereof, is a weight member 6 to ballast the body or hull and cause it to ride on an even keel, and also to aid gravitation of the body or hull during its diving movement when submerging.

It is preferable that the main body or hull be formed to provide a flat bottom, so that, when afloat, the draft is comparatively shallow, i. e. at a normally low water-line.

The bottom portion ID of the main body or hull is provided with primary water admission means fonned by at least one water intake port I1, preferably located adjacent to the bow l8 of the main body or hull. Provided in one or both side portions H of the main body or hull is secondary water admission means formed by one or more secondary water intake ports I 9. When bow foremost diving movement of the main body or hull is desired to be obtained, said secondary water admission means i located closely adjacent to the bow l8, and at a level spaced somewhat above the water-line of the body or hull, when the latter is initially disposed afloat on the surface Provided in the top or deck portion i2 I of water. of the main body or hull is air evacuating vent means, preferably comprising air vent ports 20 located adjacent to both the bow and stern'ends of the main body or hull. Thes vent ports 20 may also be used for draining out water from the main body or hull, when it is desired to empty the same preparatory to again setting it afloat. If desired, an auxiliary secondary water intake port 21 may be provided in the stern wall 22 of the main body or hull.

Said primary water admission means, comprising the water intake port I1, is of comparatively small size or area so as to provide a slow leak of water into the interior of th main body or hull after the same has been set afloat. The secondary water admission means, comprising the intake ports I9 and 2|, are of relatively large size or area so as to provide a rapid influx of water into the interior of the main body or hull, whereby to effect a relatively rapid sinking thereof into the water to submerged level.

Afiixed to the bottom portion Id of the main body or hull, within the latter and adjacent to the stem end thereof, is an upwardly open float chamber 23 adapted to give temporary buoyancy to the stern end of the main body or hull when it goes down by the head. thereby to facilitate a bow foremost diving action thereof when submerging,

The form of toy submarine shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and above described is designed to effect, in operation, a bow foremost dive when submerging. If a direct downwardly sinking submersion is desired, without bow foremost diving effect, the stem end float chamber 23 may be omitted so that water simultaneously enters both bow end and stem end secondary intake ports l9 and 2|.

In operation, the toy submarine shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive submerges with bow foremost diving effect, and in so doing performs as follows:

The main body or hull being empty is set afloat on the surface of water, so as to initially float at a water-line level below the secondary water intake ports l9 and 2|, and consequently so that no water can initially enter the body or hull interior through the latter. While the main body or hull is thu afloat, water slowly enters the interior thereof through the primary intake ports I! in its bottom portion l0. As the thus slowly admitted water accumulates within the body or hull interior, said body or hull gradually sinks deeper into the water, but owing to the inability of the water risin in the bottom of the body or hull interior to enter the stem end float chamber 23 until it reaches a level permitting it to overflow the open top thereof so as to displace air therefrom, air is not immediately displaced from said stern end float chamber 23, and consequently the latter tends to buoy up the stem end of the body or hull, and thus compels the body or hull to first go down by the head. As the body or hull thus goes down by the head, secondary water.

intake ports l9 are first lowered to and below water level, whereupon water rushes therethrough into the interior of the bow portion of the body or hull, thereby causing the same to dive bow foremost, in the manner indicated in Fig. 3. Thereafter, as the entering water continues to rise and fill the interior of the body or hull, it eventually overflows the stern end float chamber 23 so as to displace air therefrom, and thereupon permit the stem end of the body or bull to settle to the point where water also enters the auxiliary secondary water intake port 2!, so that the body or hull quickly completes its diving submersion and comes back to even keel. Submerging movement continues until the water rising within and filling the body or hull interior reaches and seals off the open bottom portion of the chamber 55, thus trapping the air therein, so as to provide a buoyant float adapted to buoy up the submerged body or hull against further submersion, and so that it floats submerged below the water surface, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be understood that while the described su-bmerging action takes place, air from the interior of the body or hull will be displaced by the entering water and evacuated through the air vent means provided by the vent openings 20, or otherwise.

From the above description it will be obvious that the submerging action is automatic, and is not dependent upon the action of any moving parts or mechanism, but is attained solely by the controlled influx of water in the manner described. It will thus be understood that a very inexpensive self-submerging toy submarine is provided, which can be used over and over again; which is sturdy and long-lived in the hands of a child, having no complicated mechanism to get out of order; and which can be repeatedly caused to perform by merely removing the same from the water, and after emptying water therefrom, again setting the same afloat.

For older children, more elaborate forms of the toy submarine may be provided, the selfsubmerging action of which, however, is nevertheless dependent upon the same principles of construction, and is adapted to function by substantially the same mode of operation, as in the case of the simple type of toy above described. .One such modified form of toy submarine is shown in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, the same comprising a hollow main body or hull 30 substantially similar to that already above described, and being provided with the primary water intake port ll, secondary water intake ports l9 and 2|, air evacuating vents 26, and stern end float chamber 23. Joined to and rising from the top of the main body or hull 30, intermediate its bow and stern ends, is an upstanding endwise open extension 3|, which may be suitably shaped to simulate the conning tower of a submarine. Suitably aflixed to and extending downwardly through said extension 3| to the bottom of the main body or hull 30 is an upwardly open well member 32. Slidably mounted within said well member 32, subject to vertically adjusted disposition therein, is a hollow air tight float member or chamber 33. AI- fixed to extend axially upward from said float member or chamber 33 is a periscope simulating element 34, at least a substantial portion of which is formed from weighty material, such 6. g. as lead, to provide a weight member 35.

Said float member or chamber 33 is arranged to possess a tight frictional but sliding engagement with the walls of said well member 32, whereby it may be optionally moved to and will sustain itself in a lowered position, as shown by full lines in Fig. 5, or whereby it may be moved to and will sustain. itself in a raised position, as shown by dotted lines in said Fig. 5.

If desired, the endwise open extension 3! may include an outwardly open hatchway portion 36 in communication with the interior of the main body orhull 3|], whereby to increase speed of air evacuation and water intake during submerging action of the toy submarine. The walls of the well member 32 are preferably provided with one or more air evacuating ports 31, suitably located intermediate its top and bottom ends.

The modified form of toy submarine last described, may be optionally adjusted to capsize upon submersion, or to submerge and float on even keel. If it is desired that the toy submarine capsize upon submersion, the float member or chamber 33 is moved to its lowered position in the well member 32, as shown by full lines in Fig. 5. When the submarine is thu adiusted or conditioned and set afloat, the. submerging action will thereafter take place in substantially the same manner as above set forth in connection with the first described form of the toy submarine, but due to the fact that the buoyant air chamber provided by the float member or chamber 33 is positioned adjacent the bottom of the main body or hull 30, the center of gravity of the water filled main body or hull 30 will be disposed nearer the top than the bottom of the latter, and the weight member 35,

tending by gravity to seek equilibrium, will cause the body or hull 30 to roll over or capsize, and thereupon to be sustained by the float member or chamber 33 in a submerged but up-side down floating condition, as shown in Fig. 6; thu simulating a disabled or wrecked submarine. these conditions air will be evacuated from the well member 32 through the vents 3'1, as the air is displaced by water entering the submerged open end of said well member.

If it be desired that the toy submarine submerge and float on even keel, the float member or chamber 33is moved to its raised position in the well member 32, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. '5. When the submarine is thus adjusted or conditioned and set afloat. the submerging action will take place in the manner previously described, but due to the fact that the center of gravity is nearer the bottom of the main body or hull, tendency to capsize when submerged is resisted, and the float member or chamber 33 plus unevacuated air in the well member 32 will sustain the main body or hull on even keel, as well as sustain in equilibrium the weight member 35, all as shown in Fig. '7.

If the stern end float chamber 23 is used, in order to obtain bow foremost diving effect during submerging of the main body or hull 30, it may be provided with a small air vent 38, so as to assure venting of any air therefrom when the main body or hull capsizes.

In Fig. 8 is shown a still more elaborate and further modified form of the toy submarine of this invention in which additional features are provided to give greater versimilitude to the toy. As in the previously described constructions, the toy submarine is embodied in a hollow main body or hull 48 substantially the same in general char- Under actor as previously described, but modified as'to the primary and secondary water admission means whereby the submerging action involves a substantially direct downward sinking with substantially no bow foremost diving motion. To this end a forward primary water intake port ll and a rearward primary water intake port H are provided in the hull bottom, and forward secondary water intake ports I9 and rearward secondary water intake ports l9 are provided in the hull sides; the stem end float chamber 23 being omitted. The ballasting weight I6 is provided, and air evacuating vents 20 are like.- wise provided at the bow and stem ends of the top of the body or hull 40. Joined to and rising fromthe top of the main body or hull 40 is a hollow extension 4! suitably shaped to simulate a conning tower, the rear portion of which opens outwardly to provide a hatchway 42. Aflixed to and disposed within the interior of said hollow extension 4| is a downwardly open float chamber 43 which communicates with the interior of the main body or hull 40.

Suitably projectible through the top of said extension 4 I, preferably intermediate the forward wall thereof and the adjacent side of said float chamber 43, is a perpendicular periscope simulating element 44, provided at its bottom end with an upwardly open carrier float 45. Normally said element 44 occupies a downwardly withdrawn position within the interior of the main body or hull 4'0, with its carrier float resting on the bottom of the latter.

Aiflxed to the bow end of the main body or hull 4llis an outwardly open torpedo tube 46, which extends rearwardly into the interior of the body or hull .5, and which is provided with a closed inner end 41. -Ax-ially movable within said torpedo tube 46 is a plunger 48, the stem 49 of which slidably projects exteriorly through the end wall 4'! of the torpedo tube. rearward free end of said stem 49 is an enlargement 50 to serve as. a stop member for limiting forward movement of the plunger 48. The plunger is actuated by a compression spring 5|, which is engaged between the same and the end wall 41 of the torpedo tube. Adapted to be lodged within the forward open end of the torpedo tube 46 is a torpedo simulating element 52, the same having an annular flange 53 at its rear end. When the torpedo element is entered in the torpedo tube it retracts the plunger 48 and compresses its actuating spring 5|, these parts.

being releasably secured in such normal initial relation by a float actuated detent means. Said detent means comprises a detent lever 54 pivotally supported on a pivoting bracket 55 which is aflixed to the bottom of the body or hull 40. At its forward end, said detent lever is provided with a latch nosing 56, and at its rearward end with a buoyant float member 5?. Normally the float member 51 rests upon the bottom of the body or hull 411, thus swinging upward the forward arm of the detent lever, whereby to project the latch nosing 56 through an openin 58 in the torpedo tube 45 and into torpedo restraining engagement with the flange 53 of the torpedo element (see dotted line representation of these parts as shown in Fig. 8). If desired a bell or other sound producing element 59 may be mounted within the body or hull 40 in the path of movement of the plunger stem enlargement 50, so that the latter may function as a striker to sound said element 59 when the torpedo element is discharged.

Affixed to the Pivotally mounted within the hatchway 42 isa hatch door simulating element comprising a door section 60 and a platform section 6! disposed in substantially right angular relation. An effigy 62 of a sailor may be mounted on the platform section 6! and behind the door section 60 which it appears to grasp. Said hatch door simulating element is connected to the detent lever float member 51, by a link 63 affixed by one end to the platform section 6 l, the other end of which is pivotally connected with the free end of a post 64 upstanding from the float member, all in such manner that said element is moved to closed position when the float member 5'! rises, and to open position when the float member descends, whereby, before submerging action of the main body or hull 4D is completed, the sailor eiflgy appears'to descend the hatchway 42 and close the door section 60.

If it is desired to produce bubble bursts on the water'surfaoe during submerging action of the toy'subrnarine, the following means may be provided for the purpose. Aflixed to the top of the main body or hull 40, within the interior thereof adjacent to its stern end, is a downwardly open air trap-ping chamber 65. Said air trapping chamber is provided with an outlet 66 adjacent to its top-end, to which is coupled one end of an air conduit 61. Said air conduit is led downwardly. through the interior of the body or hull 4G, and its free end 68 is passed through the stern of the latter adjacent to the bottom thereof, so as to project exteriorly therefrom.

' In the operation of the form of toy submarine of Fig. 8 and its equipment, when, after being set afloat on the surface of water, water enters the interior of the body or hull through the primary water intake ports lI-ll', said body or hull 40 will gradually sink until the secondary water intake ports I a-I9 are disposed to permit rapid influx of water, whereupon the sinking speed accelerates so as to effect the desired submerging action; which submerging action is completed when the water reaches'and seals off the float chamber 43, so that the air trapped therein buoys up the body or hull 40, and causes the same to float at submerged level.

As water rises in the interior of the body or hull 49, it will buoy up the carrier float of the periscope simulating element 44, so that, while the toy submarine is submerging, the latter will be projected upwardly and exteriorly therefrom, until upward movement of the carrier float 45 is arrested by abutment against the top of the body or hull 40, which occurs somewhat before the body or hull completes its submerging movement. When the upward movement of the carrier float 45 is thus arrested, continued rising of the water in the body or hull interior permits water to overflow the open top of carrier float 45 so as to fill the same, whereupon the periscope simulating element 44 and its carrier float, being no longer buoyed up, will descend and resume normal initial lowered position, whereby the periscope appears to be withdrawn from service after submersion of the toy submarine.

By the time the entering water rises within the body or hull 49 high enough to start buoying up the detent lever float member 57, the torpedo tube 46 will have approached the surface of the exterior water, and as the detent lever float member 51 rises the detent lever 54 will swing so as'to disengage the latch nosing 56 from the torpedo 52, whereupon the latter and the driving plunger 48 will be released, so that the plunger tube 45 is submerged, and so that the torpedo 1 is released above the water as indicated by dotted representation of the thus projected torpedo shown in Fig. 8; and at the same time the enlargement of the plunger stem 49 will move past and strike the sound producing element 59 to signal that the torpedo has'been fired. Optionally the release of the torpedo may be delayed so a to discharge after the toy submarine is submerged (see full line representation of the discharged torpedo shown in Fig. 8); thi being accomplished by arranging the detent means so that it will not release until the float member 51 body or hull 46 and reaches the level of the downwardly open end of the air trapping member 65, the latter will be sealed off and air trapped therein. As the water continues to rise, this trapped air will be forced outwardly through the outlet 56 and conduit 51, so as to be emitted from. the external end 68 of the latter into the exterior water adjacent to the stern of the toy submarine. The thus emitted air will stream up to the surface of the exterior water, forming bubble bursts at such surface. Such bubble burst continue during the continued submerging descent of body or hull Gil, and until submersion is complete and all the air is evacuated from the air trapping chamber 65. It will be obvious that a veryrealistic eifect is thus caused to accompany the submerging action of the toy submarine.

It will be obvious that the various adjuncts to the verisimilitude of the toy submarine which are above described are respectively subject to optional use, and any one or more or all thereof may be incorporated in the toy, as may be expedient.

It will also be understood that non-functional simulations of external fittings of a submarine, such e. g. as deck guns, etc., may be employed if desired.

I am aware that many changes could be made in the above described constructions without departing from the scope of thi invention as defined by the following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accmpanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrativ and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A self-submerging toy submarine comprising a hollow hull body having slow acting small capacity primary water admission means in its bottom portion below its normal water-line and relatively rapidly acting large capacity secondary water admission means spaced above but closely adjacent to its normal water-line, and said hull body having constant air vent means in its top portion.

2. A self-submerging toy submarine comprising a hollow hull body having slow acting primary water admission means in its bottom portion below its normal water-line and relatively rapidly acting secondary water admission means spaced above its normal water-line, said hull body having air vent means in its top portion, and said hull body having at its top portion means to provide a chamber open toward the interior of said hull body in which air may be trapped, whereby to float the hull body at a submerged level.

3. A self-submerging toy submarine comprising a hollow hull body having slow acting primary water admission means in its bottom portion below its normal water-line and relatively rapidly acting secondary water admission means spaced above its normal water-line and adjacent to its bow end, said hull body having air vent means in its top portion, and an upwardly openstern end float chamber mounted within the hull body on the bottom portion thereof adjacent its stern end.

4. A self-submerging toy submarine comprising a hollow vhull body having slow acting primary water admission means in its bottom portion below its normal water-line and relatively rapidly acting secondary water admission means spaced above its normal water-line and adjacent to its bow end, said hull body having air vent means in its top portion, an upwardly open stem end float chamber mounted within the hull body on the bottom portion thereof adjacent its stern end, and said hull body having at its top portion means to provide a chamber open toward the interior of said hull body in which air may be trapped, whereby to float the hull body at a submerged level.

5. A self-submerging toy submarine comprising a hollow hull body having slow acting primary water admission means in its bottom portion below its normal water-line and relatively rapidly acting secondary water admission means spaced above its normal wat er-line, said hull body having air vent means in its top portion, said hull body having at its top portion means to provide a chamber open toward the interior of said hull body in which air may be trapped, whereby to float the hull body at a submerged level, a movable periscope element normally retracted within the interior of said hull body but adapted to be projected exteriorly through the top portion thereof, and an upwardly open carrier float to which the inner end of said periscope element is afliXed, said periscope element being adapted to be projected by the up-buoying of its carrier float by water entered and rising within said hull body and thereafter retracted by overflow of water into said carrier float when the hull body is submerged.

6. A self-submerging toy submarine comprising a hollow hull body having slow acting primary water admission means in its bottom portion below its normal water-line and relatively rapidly acting secondary water admission means spaced above its normal water-line, said hull body having at its top portion means to provide a chamber open toward the interior of said hull body in which air may be trapped, whereby to float the hull body at a submerged level, means to provide an outwardly open hatchway at the top portion of said hull body, a pivoted hatch door means operative in said hatchway means and a sailor efiigy carried thereby adapted to be exteriorly projected from the hatchway means when the door means is moved to open position and withdrawn thereinto when the door means is moved to closed position, and. float operated means for actuating said door means operative to move the latter to closed osition when its float is up-buoyed by water entering and rising within said hull body during submerging movement thereof.

7. A self-submerging toy submarine comprising a hollow hull body having a slow acting primary water admission means in its bottom portion below its normal water-line and relatively rapidly acting secondary water admission means spaced above its normal water-line, said hull body having air vent means in its top portion, said hull body having at its top portion means to provide a chamber open toward the interior of the hull body in which air may be trapped, whereby to float the hull body at a submerged level, an outwardly open torpedo tube affixed to an nd of said hull body within the interior thereof, a torpedo element receivable in said tube, a spring actuated lunger for projecting said torpedo element from said tube, a float actuated detent means to restrain said torpedo element and plunger, said detent means being adapted to be released by upbuoying of its float by water entered and rising within said hull body, whereby to discharge said torpedo element when the hull body is submerged, sound producing means adapted to be 0D- erated by the torpedo projecting movement of said plunger, means to provide an outwardly open hatchway at the top portion of said hull body, a pivoted hatch door means operative in said hatchway means and a sailor efligy carried thereby adapted to be exteriorly rojected from the hatchway means when the door means is moved to open position and withdrawn thereinto when the door means is moved to closed position, and means actuated by said detent means float for moving said door means to closed position when the detent means float rises during submerging movement of said hull body.

FREDERICK SABINI. 

